...giving away sweet little Isaiah? 
I can't believe how much has happened in the last few weeks. So very many decisions have been made.
First off, our vacation was excellent. We spent two weeks with family and introduced the boys to a whole new region. We had so much fun. The first week was spent with Justin's family, in Norfolk. They live on a golf course so the boys got to try golfing with Chuck and wrecked a golf cart (their first driving experience ever). They were given custom made putters for Christmas along with Nebraska hoodies. Justin got a Nintendo hoodie and a PS2 Network Adapter. I got a Spanish-English electronic translator from Justin and a spa basket from my mother-in-law. We got a $150 gift card to Home Depot to work on our house, as well.
We spent some time with Nolan and met his girlfriend, Anna. She was really cool. They're absolutely adorable together. She's a talented artist and a sweet girl. I'm looking forward to getting to know her better. Nolan is now enrolled at Northeast in the Networking program. I'm so proud of him. I'm glad to see him finding some direction. I'm so happy we'll be seeing more of him soon.
We also touched base with Justin's old professor at Northeast, Kris Coan. She's a great person and I'm glad that we stayed in touch after we left Norfolk. I also stopped in and saw my old boss at BMS, Rod, and we chatted for quite a while. Good times.
After that week, we headed on to Broken Bow, my parents' home. It was a much smaller town so we spent a lot of time with my family, just watching TV, sleeping, relaxing, and hanging out. The boys discovered their love for American board games and are now addicted to Monopoly. It's so cute.
The boys got Nebraska Starter coats and no-battery flashlights. Justin and I got a TON of camping stuff; super-king sleeping bag, enamel dishes, lexan silverware, a huge 3-ft tall air mattress, and a turbo pump to air it up. Then, waaaaay back behind the tree, my brother pulled out a motherboard box and handed it to Justin. Justin was like, "...this has to just be the box that the present is in - it can't actually be a motherboard!" My parents just smiled and nodded for him to open it. It was this INSANE motherboard with specs of d00meh. I cried because he was so excited. I was so happy for him. Three hours earlier, on our way there, he was mentioning how he was a little disappointed that he hadn't gotten any computer gear for Christmas.
So that was vacation.
On to the biggest thing that's happened.
For six months or longer, we've known that we were getting restless. So many obstacles... Things just weren't going right. We began to realize that it is time for us to go. Kingman was great for us at the time. We learned a lot and grew a lot while in Kingman. We established our independence, claimed jobs in our chosen fields on our own merit, and began our lives together. Things were good. We made investments, both emotionally and financially, and they are paying off. Good decisions and good times.
However, the job market is now much more welcoming back where we are from in Nebraska, and our family is all there. Our values and priorities are changing and with that is the restlessness telling us that we need to move. There are opportunities for education, and a break from the grueling maintenance of a huge house and yard. A church of 1200 awaits us and all the change that it involves. Justin has a possibility of some GREAT jobs there that will enable me to go to school full-time and not have to work.
Since deciding to move, our house has been a flurry of activity and a whirlwind of decisions. We are putting the house up for sale and all of the work that accompanies that decision is crashing down up on us. Several long-overdue maintenance issues are being resolved and everyday is a constant battle to make cosmetic repairs even with our limited budget and severe time restraints.
The big question that everyone immediately asks is "When?!?!?" The answer, painfully, is always "I don't know!" We will move when Justin secures a job up there. *sigh* I just keep praying. It's led me thus far.
The apartments that we're looking at are the Chateau Developments in Lincoln, Nebraska. They're a luxury community in the southeastern part of the city.
You can find them at http://www.chateaudev.com. We'll be in the Parkview complex, hopefully to occupy the 'Four Seasons I' floorplan.
You can find information on Lincoln here.
I'll be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this fall and hopefully become a part of Capitol City Christian Church.
This update has been a long time in coming, sorry for the length.
Please keep us in your prayers, we will definitely need them in the upcoming months.
Love you guys!
I'm gonna go get my hair cut.
Postin' some pictures from last week's Scooters trip!
Too close!!!
DDR....our new obsession.
Yes, those are my feet, ROCKIN' that machine.
That's a golf pencil in his mouth, not a cancer stick.
AAAGHHHHHH!!! DON'T GO IN THE POND!!!
What a great picture of my boys! L to R: Justin, Kyung Min, and Hak Jun.
That's my baby! We're so cute together...
What a fun day! Justin, Kyung Min, Hak Jun and I all went to Bullhead City today. The boys rode with the youth group who also was going and went to Scooters. Scooters is a family fun center that has a small arcade, batting cage, go-carts, mini-golf, and concessions. I got a 65 in 18 holes, smacked the heck out of some slow-pitch softballs, got smoked by Rachel and Justin on the go-cart track, and most importantly, discovered a new addiction. Dance Dance Revolution. I'm officially obsessed. We are going to ask Justin's mom for two DDR pads for Christmas and start collecting the games. It's a great way to work out and it was really fun. Aaron is going to try and find his old one and hook us up until Christmas.
After Scooters, Justin, Kyung Min, Hak Jun, Rachel, Kyle, and I all headed to the mall and had Chinese/Quiznos in the food court and then went turbo-shopping since we were running late already because the aforementioned DDR addiction. Kyung Min got a new jacket at the GAP, and Hak Jun picked up a new pair of Adidas at the shoe store.
We took off for the car and ran into Aaron and his mom on the way and kidnapped him. We got back to Kingman, dropped the boys off at the house and drove out to Rex's house for the Young Adult Group (YAG) Bonfire (that I organized and we were late for). We had so many people there! It was awesome.
We roasted hot dogs and had smores and got to see Rex's gorgeous new mansion that they're just finishing up. Four bedrooms, four baths and thousands of square feet. Master bedroom has tinted windows for walls, facing the east. Master bath has a circular cave for a shower. Their TV room is a circle with a 1/2 wall that they just threw a ton of bean bags in. The kitchen is massive and they have a loft in their teenagers room. They have a rec room with a ping pong table and a pool table. They have a hot tub and pool and a stinkin' TOWER to watch storms in the valley from. It's amazing.
We had a lot of new people at YAG so we went around and said a little about ourselves. I'm going to see how cool I am and if I can remember most of everybody's info.
Ken:
Age - 34
Occupation - Network Admin at MCC
From: New York City
Hobbies: Fishing, Music, Movies, Computers
Myself:
Age - 23
Occupation - Substitute Teacher
From: Nebraska
Rachel C:
Age - 17
Occupation - Hobo College Student
From: Kingman
Fascinating Fact: Graduated at 16
Rachel G:
Age - 17
Occupation - Hastings Associate
From: California
Fascinating Fact - Marrying Kyle in March
Brandon:
Age - 25
Occupation - Carpenter
From - ??
Fascinating Fact - He's a "lyricist" (doesn't like the stereotype that goes with "rapper")
Justin:
Age - 23
Occupation - Computer programmer/IT professor
From - Kingman
Hobbies - Spending unnatural amounts of time in front of a computer
Tara:
Age - 25
Occupation - Sales
Fascinating Fact - Likes 'Alias'
Patti:
Age - 25
Occupation - Teacher
Fascinating Fact - On the Dance Team
Brian:
Age - 31
Occupation - Pastor
From - Walla Walla, Washington
Hobbies - Reading
Alex:
Age - 18
Occupation - Housewife
From - San Jose, CA
Fascinating Fact - Married at 4pm today
Eugene:
Age - 21
Occupation - Laborer at American Woodmark
Beth:
Age - 24
Occupation - Kindergarten Teacher @ Cerbat
From - Casper, WY
Hobbies - Running, Sports
Fascinating Fact - Played soccer in college
Kyle C:
Age - 22
Occupation - Ag/Science Teacher
From - Oklahoma
Fascinating Fact - New owner of a shotgun, likes to shoot for sport
Aaron:
Age - 25
Occupation - Full time college student on a GI Bill
Fascinating Fact - He's blown up a refrigerator.......twice
Kyle M:
Age - 20
Occupation - Hastings Associate/IT Intern/College student
Hobbies - Computer games
Fascinating Fact - Marrying Rachel G in March
Derek:
Age - 21
Occupation - Lifeguard
Hobbies - Computer
Fascinating Fact - Always wears flip flops
I know that I probably forgot someone and that I missed a few things but, I'm glad I remembered what I did.
Woot for the Rach(a)el Rock!
I suppose that's it for now.
Rock on, people.
Peace.
STANFORD, Calif. — Cameron Diaz surprised a class at Stanford University when the “Charlie’s Angels” star helped lead a lecture on environmentally friendly design. Diaz’s appearance Thursday came as part of taping for an mtvU program called “Stand-In” in which celebrities teach a class. On Tuesday, Madonna lectured students at New York’s Hunter College.
Just one thing, if I were a student at Stanford, paying close to $45,000 a year for my education, wouldn’t I be just a little bit inclined to ask for a discount or a refund for that wasted hour of my life?
Please! Unless Cameron Diaz was leading a discussion on Justin Timberlake 101, why did this university allow this? (And don’t even get me started on Madonna “lecturing” students!)
Celebrities,
Do what you’re paid to do:
Look pretty and entertain us. Don’t try to educate. Please don’t try to “inform”. Protests, heartfelt pleas and college lectures are not welcomed. And your political views? Yeah we don’t care about those either. It’s bad enough Bono is meeting with Bush…
Wow! What a great game!
Tonight was like...the first time we've really been able to focus really hard on our games and still manage to have a GREAT time!
I was proud of myself. I took charge as coach and really used the leadership that I know I have. No worries about how people would think of me.
We gelled perfectly too. A great cohesive unit. I am just SO happy! It's so nice when you get great chemistry in a team!
Plus, it just felt right because we prayed before and after as a team. Great peace with our play after that. WOO! What a great night!!!
Guess what? The boys went to Homecoming! Woooooooooo
Lookin' spiffy!
Aren't they so "cool".......
A completely unrelated recent picture of me.
Hey everyone,
I've been wanting to update forever. Fo' shizzle. LOL. I'm such a dork. Anyways, now on to my uber-busy yet uber-boring life.
Things have settled into a maniacal monotony. I don't have any time to think, we have so much packed into our retarded schedule.
Mondays - Class (Justin)
Tuesdays - Volleyball (Family)
Wednesdays - Class (Justin), Youth Group (Boys)
Thursdays - Entertain (Us + Mobleys), Kids Klub (Hak Jun)
Fridays - Some random athletic or social event involving the boys (every other week is Young Adult Group with our church)
Saturdays - Clean the house, Grocery shop, and some sort of social event.
Sundays - Church, Lunch Out, Volleyball Practice, and some sort of social event.
Oy.
Northern Arizona University's Teacher Education Program requires a 500 word admission essay. Thought you guys might like a "good" read. 
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John Jay Chapman asserts, "Benevolence alone will not make a teacher, nor will learning alone do it. The gift of teaching is a peculiar talent, and implies a need and a craving in the teacher himself." This is true of the way I feel. When you know what you are called to do, it becomes a burning passion embedded deep into your spirit. It is the one thing you are fulfilled in doing, feeling empty without that sense of accomplishment. When I look into a child's eyes and know that I am making a difference, there is no greater reward. Continuing my education is a choice I have made in order to satisfy this craving.
Since I was very young, and then poignantly at age 16, I have known that my soul's desire is to teach. Nothing else brings me the joy I need to feel actualized. I have spent quite a bit of time exploring this aspiration to ensure its truth in my life. In Junior High, I worked in counseling for elementary students and when entering high school began to teach lower age groups in supervised settings such as church.
After really feeling the call at graduation, I began to seek out opportunities for teaching experience; single-handedly organizing and administrating a 15 person teaching team for my home congregation's youth program. The following year, I devoted 110 volunteer hours to a 6th grade class forging a very rewarding mentor relationship with the classroom teacher, a veteran of 30 years.
In 2003, moving across country, I still continued in my given field, working as a classroom assistant until I could not stand by as others taught. Thus I began substitute teaching during the subsequent term. When subbing, I kept my span broad so as to really experience everything so I could find where I am most comfortable and relate the best. I taught a range from preschool to 12th grade. I really found my niche in 4th to 6th grade. They have so much potential! I want to be one of the ones to guide that potential, to nurture it and give it wings. I want to see these children succeed and strive for their dreams.
I see children everyday in my work, but what's frustrating is that it's just a glimpse, a taste, a mere moment of these children's lives. I can only do so much with a day. The pay, the red tape, the parents, yes, I know that there are problems in this profession. I just pray everyday that I will have the strength to endure these trials for the sake of being that light in the day of a child who comes from a broken or abusive home. I pray that even though there will be problems that I can be there to teach a child to read when no one else has the time or will take the time to do it. There's a need...and a craving in me, to teach.
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506 words. Boo Yah.
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